At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead design management for exciting construction projects, ensuring compliance and quality.
- Company: Join Bowmer + Kirkland, a top family-run construction group with a strong commitment to staff.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, private health insurance, and training opportunities.
- Other info: Be part of a supportive team that values diversity and encourages growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on high-value projects while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Proven design management experience and a solid understanding of construction regulations.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 £ per year.
Location: Heage with regular travel to Derbyshire & Woking
Salary: Competitive
Job Type: This is a full time, permanent role 40 hours over 5 days per week
About Bowmer + Kirkland: Since being established in 1923 Bowmer + Kirkland has grown to become one of the most successful privately-owned, and family run construction groups in the UK. Our Investors in People accreditation demonstrates our commitment to our staff and we are Scheme Partners of the Considerate Constructors Scheme.
We are now looking to strengthen our team with the appointment of an experienced Design Manager, ideally with experience of MOJ projects, to lead the coordination and delivery of design on our projects based at HMP Foston Hall and HMP Coldingley.
The Role: As Design Manager, you will be responsible for managing the design intent through detailed interrogation, coordination, and leadership of the design process across the full project lifecycle. This includes ensuring compliance with the Building Safety Act, CDM Regulations, statutory approvals, and B+K's internal governance. You will work collaboratively with clients, consultants, specialist subcontractors, and internal teams to ensure design excellence, programme certainty, and buildability while embedding health and safety and digital innovation throughout. You will play a key part in ensuring information flows smoothly between B+K, subcontractors, consultants, and the client - contributing to the delivery of high-quality, well-coordinated projects.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead the management of the design process across one or more projects
- Coordinate the full design team including consultants and design-and-build subcontractors
- Manage the design programme, RFIs, change control and document control processes
- Ensure designs are compliant with Building Regulations, planning conditions, CDM, and other statutory requirements
- Drive Safety in Design (SiD) and embed buildability and health & safety risk mitigation
- Oversee BIM coordination, clash detection reviews, and digital model audits
- Support tendering, value engineering and pre-construction activities
- Maintain a high level of technical and commercial awareness in all design decision-making
- Engage in client meetings and lead proactive design-based communication
- Participate in lessons learned and best practice forums to enhance our delivery model
- Mentor junior design team members and actively support CPD development
About you: The successful candidate will demonstrate exceptional leadership, a robust understanding of delivering in a main contracting environment, and the ability to work collaboratively with key project stakeholders. A relentless focus on safe delivery, programme certainty, stakeholder engagement, and quality assurance are essential.
Key Skills & Experience required:
- Proven experience in a design management role, within a main contracting environment
- Ideally candidates will have experience working on MoJ schemes, although experience in other sectors such as commercial or education also accepted
- Experience of high value projects is also necessary
- Strong technical design background with a degree (or equivalent) in a construction-related discipline
- Solid understanding of current regulations (Building Safety Act, CDM, Building Regs, etc.)
- Experience in coordinating multidisciplinary teams and managing specialist subcontractors
- Skilled in BIM processes and using platforms such as Viewpoint 4P
- Proactive, organised, and a confident communicator
- Capable of managing a range of project types, tight deadlines, and complex design scopes
In return we offer:
- 25 days holiday per year, plus 8 bank holidays and Christmas Eve
- Entry into the Group Personal Pension Scheme
- Private Health Insurance (subject to a qualifying period)
- Eye care voucher scheme
- Training & Development Opportunities
Bowmer + Kirkland are an equal opportunities employer. We are a disability confident employer and actively encourage applicants who are covered under the equality act to apply. Please contact HR in advance of an interview to discuss any adjustments that are required in order to support you in the process.
If you're interested in the role and would like to put yourself forward, please hit APPLY and attach your CV and Cover Letter.
Design Manager in Manchester employer: Bowmer And Kirkland Limited
Bowmer + Kirkland is an exceptional employer, renowned for its commitment to staff development and well-being, as evidenced by our Investors in People accreditation. With a strong focus on collaboration and innovation, we offer a supportive work culture that encourages professional growth through training and mentorship opportunities. Located in Heage with regular travel to Derbyshire and Woking, our Design Manager role provides the chance to work on impactful projects within a family-run environment that values safety, quality, and employee engagement.
Contact Details:
Bowmer And Kirkland Limited Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Design Manager in Manchester
✨Get Your Portfolio Game On Point
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We think you need these skills to ace Design Manager in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Design Skills:Architecture is all about creativity and technical skills, so make sure your portfolio is front and centre! Include a range of your best projects, showcasing different styles and techniques. Don't forget to explain your design process and the challenges you overcame for each project – it gives hiring managers a glimpse into your thought process!
Tailor Your CV to Architecture:When putting together your CV, highlight relevant experience in architectural design software, like AutoCAD or Revit. Plus, if you have any internships or coursework that involved real-world projects, be sure to mention them. We want to see not just what you've done, but how it relates directly to this role at Bowmer And Kirkland Limited!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to express your passion for architecture and what drew you to Bowmer And Kirkland Limited. Talk about specific projects or values of theirs you admire, and how you see yourself contributing to their team. We want to feel your enthusiasm – let it shine through your words!
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How to prepare for a job interview at Bowmer And Kirkland Limited
✨Master the Technical Questions
In an architecture interview, be ready to tackle some technical questions about building codes, design principles, and software like AutoCAD or Revit. Brush up on your knowledge of materials and components, as you might even face scenarios to solve during the interview that showcase your problem-solving skills in real-time.
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✨Engage with Your Interviewers
Architecture is a collaborative field, so showing that you're a team player is essential. When conversing with the interviewers, actively listen and respond to their ideas. This isn’t just about you showing off your skills, but also about connecting and demonstrating how well you’d fit into their team at Bowmer And Kirkland Limited.
